Pic of lucky

[Lee-]

 

[Gillian M]

View attachment 184251

A cute tort, though he's pyramided. Please give him daily soaks in warm water to stop the pyramiding where it is.

Read the "Beginners Mistakes" Thread, and ask any question when you need help.

And a very warm welcome to the forum!

 

[Lee-]

Hi where is that thread to please

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Lee, and welcome to the Forum! Lucky is a very pretty little Russian tortoise. Captive bred, right?

 

[Lee-]

Hi Lee, and welcome to the Forum! Lucky is a very pretty little Russian tortoise. Captive bred, right?

Thanks

 

[Lee-]

Thanks

Hi I put a post on here earlier could you tell me please if what I've been told is correct pleas

 

[Lee-]

A cute tort, though he's pyramided. Please give him daily soaks in warm water to stop the pyramiding where it is.

Read the "Beginners Mistakes" Thread, and ask any question when you need help.

And a very warm welcome to the forum!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi I put a post on here earlier could you tell me please if what I've been told is correct pleas

I don't see any other thread made by you except this one. What in particular are you asking about?

Oh, and by the way, here's the link to the beginner mistakes thread Gillian referred you to:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[Lee-]

I don't see any other thread made by you except this one. What in particular are you asking about?

Oh, and by the way, here's the link to the beginner mistakes thread Gillian referred you to:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Thanks

 

[Lee-]

Thanks

Well she don't seem to be eating much I've only seen her eating one small leaf of lettuce today

 

[Yvonne G]

It makes a world of difference in their eating habits when they're set up properly. They need a UVB light and they need to be in their own habitat where they are kept warm enough. If a tortoise isn't warm enough (at least 80-85F degrees) they won't eat.

 

[Lee-]

It makes a world of difference in their eating habits when they're set up properly. They need a UVB light and they need to be in their own habitat where they are kept warm enough. If a tortoise isn't warm enough (at least 80-85F degrees) they won't eat.

OK thanks as we were told to keep the temp at 80 max

 

[Gillian M]

Well she don't seem to be eating much I've only seen her eating one small leaf of lettuce today

Torts also need time to adapt to change, which they do not like.

 

[Lee-]

Torts also need time to adapt to change, which they do not like.

OK thanks

 

[Gillian M]

Hi I put a post on here earlier could you tell me please if what I've been told is correct pleas

Have you found/read the thread?

 

[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome.

It is all too common for advice from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets to be be outdated and sometimes plain wrong. Luckily you found TFO

Your Russian must be able to bask at 95-100F in order to digest its food and be active. (I will post a lighting summary next)

Photos of your enclosure and lighting will help us to help us to help you perfect the enclosure

Your tort's diet should be leafy greens. It cannot digest sugars properly - they cause digestive and kidney problems - so fruit, tomato, bell pepper and carrot should only be fed very sparingly and very occasionally. Supermarket greens are frequently low in fibre, so supplementing with weeds and garden plants helps correct this. (Another post coming!)

Please read these posts written by TFO species experts on the correct care for your tort.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Russian Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

 

[JoesMum]

Here's a lighting summary:

Your tort needs:

1. A basking lamp
This must hang vertically, not at an angle. Basking is essential to raise your tortoise's core temperature so it can digest food.

2. UVB light
Read the instructions for the source to see how close to the substrate it must be. UVB is essential so your tort can process dietary calcium and have healthy bones and shell.

Both 1 and 2 are available from the sun for those able to live outside.

UVB does not pass through glass or perspex(plexiglass) - light must be direct to be effective not through a window. Mesh screening can also interfere with UVB.

3. A minimum overnight temperature (see the care sheet for your species) and complete darkness at night to sleep.


Notes

(a) A Mercury Vapor Bulb (MVB) provides combined UVB and Basking. Alternatively you can use 2 bulbs: a tube UVB and a reflector bulb for basking (a household reflector - not low energy or halogen - from a hardware store will do the job; it's the wattage that counts)

(b) Ignore any references to UVA you may read - it's misleading marketing speak.

(c) Compact coil UVB harms tortoise eyes and must not be used.

(d) Basking and UVB should be on a timer so the light(s) are on for 12 hours a day. Temperature under the basking is regulated by its height above the substrate.

(e) Overnight, depending on your home, you may need additional heat. You get this from a CHE (Ceramic Heat Emitter) which must be on a thermostat.

(f) Torts have outstanding colour vision and love red and purple food. Coloured heat lamps colour tank decor and torts don't always apply intelligence to what they eat, resulting them in eating tank decor. Coloured bulbs should not be used.


Measurements

There are 4 important temperatures that you must know for an indoor enclosure.
- Directly under the basking lamp
- Warm side
- Cool side
- Overnight Minimum

You will need digital thermometers for accuracy.

A temperature gun thermometer (inexpensive from Amazon) measures temperature accurately in specific places like directly under the basking lamp.

A min/max thermometer so you know the min/max temperatures in your home by day and night.

You should also get a good digital probe hygrometer to measure humidity.

Thermometers and hygrometer that stick to the side of the enclosure tend to be less accurate.

 

[JoesMum]

Here's a list of suitable greens

Look them up on The Tortoise Table Plant Database if you're not sure what they look like.
http://thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plant_database_14.asp

Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum .

 

[Oxalis]

Welcome to Tortoise Forum, @Lee-!

UVB does not pass through glass or perspex(plexiglass) - light must be direct to be effective not through a window. Mesh screening can also interfere with UVB.

Interesting. I didn't know that a screen would interfere with UV absorption, but that definitely comes as no surprise to me.